Council decisions

Scheduled budget adoption. The adopted budget is the legal spending authorization for the fiscal year starting July 1, 2026.

Public hearing on the FY 2026-27 Proposed Budget. Includes Council consideration of $273,655 in Library & Community Services cuts and $429,400 in Public Works cuts identified in the May 28 workshop as additional measures to reduce the projected $1.8M deficit.

Annual public budget workshop. Stephen Stolte (Assistant City Manager), Brittany Mello (Administrative Services Director), Fenny Lei, Adrian Patino, Katie Lee presented. Includes department budgets, council priorities, OpenGov transparency portal navigation. Identifies $703,655 in pending cuts going to June 9 hearing.

At the May 12, 2026 study session, Council directed staff to reduce the planned General Fund transfer to the General Capital Improvement Fund (Fund 501) for FY 2026-27 to $3.9M (down from higher amounts in earlier drafts). Helps narrow the FY 2026-27 GF deficit (proposed at $1.8M).

Annual priority-setting workshop. Council set 5 priorities for FY 2026-27 (alphabetical): Climate action; Downtown vibrancy; Housing; Public safety (NEW); Safe routes.

Staff presented three options: (1) finalize the design to be shovel-ready while continuing to seek funding (staff's recommendation); (2) phase the project based on available funding; (3) discontinue the project. Total project cost re-estimated at $56-$65M (up from prior $62M point estimate). Design and environmental documentation estimated to cost $7.4M total; the 2024 Caltrain MOU covers $2M, leaving approximately $5.4M to be appropriated through an MOU amendment that staff said they would return to Council with at a later date. Design currently at 35%. Funding shortfall on full project: $34-43M.

Staff recommendation: Staff recommended Option 1 (finalize design to be shovel-ready while continuing to seek additional funding).

Informational update on 2026 street maintenance work: $1.7M 2025-26 Annual Slurry Seal + $1.5M Bay/Pierce Roads + $0.5M SRTS Intersection + $0.3M Sand Hill pavement + $1M Cal Water cost share = $5M against $5.2M available funding (gas tax, construction impact fees, SB-1, General Capital Fund, Measure W).

October 2025 status: of the $2.25M first half, ~$677,800 (~30%) spent. Staff stated full first-half expenditure by March 31, 2026 was "not realistically achievable" under current program parameters; under no-change scenario ~$680K would remain unspent. Staff proposed ~$975,000 in new program enhancements (including e-bike, EV, solar rebates) to close the gap.

Council awarded $1,512,604 construction contract (base + bid alternate A) to NACC Construction LLC and appropriated an additional $204,604 from the General Fund unassigned balance to close the bid-vs-budget gap. Approved 10% contingency ($152,000) held by the City. 4 bidders received; NACC was low bid. Phase 2 of 3 (West Menlo Park).

Staff recommendation: Award NACC contract; appropriate $204,604

Staff progress report on the home upgrade services program. Precedes the November 2025 status report. Documented program launch dates: soft launch August 28, 2024; full launch San Mateo County + Los Banos November 18, 2024.

Authorized City Manager to execute professional services agreement with Schaaf & Wheeler for SAFER Bay design: $4,784,963 base + $544,712 optional tasks = $5,329,675. Phase 1 total project budget $6,729,175 ($5.33M agreement + $799,500 supplemental + $600,000 City services).

Staff recommendation: Authorize the design services agreement up to $5,329,675

Staff presented the rolling 5-year Street Maintenance Plan. Subsequent step: bids advertised for 2024-25 Street Resurfacing and Middle Ave Complete Streets projects.

SMCTA awarded up to $450,500 in grant funds for SRTS Intersection Improvements at Sharon Road & Eastridge Ave (La Entrada Middle School) and Oak Knoll Lane & Oak Ave (Oak Knoll Elementary). Combined with Bay and Pierce Roads project for efficient bidding. Construction summer 2026 to minimize school disruption.

Three-year contract for on-call asphalt and concrete repair work beyond Public Works maintenance staff capacity. $1,020,000 per fiscal year, of which $420,000 reserved for street resurfacing plan and remainder for sidewalk repair program.

Authorized City participation in Peninsula Clean Energy's GovPV Solar and Storage program for installation of solar PV at four City facilities: Burgess Pool, Belle Haven Child Development Center, City Hall, and Menlo Park Library. Anticipated utility savings ~$3.39M over 25 years.

Authorized the City Manager to execute the MOU with Caltrain (PCJPB) for $2,000,000 to develop engineering design and environmental clearance documents. Scope: advanced preliminary design, NEPA clearance (CEQA already done in 2020), CMGC RFP issuance, independent cost estimating. MOU term through December 31, 2026.

Staff recommendation: Authorize the city manager to execute the MOU with Caltrain for $2,000,000

Authorized the PCE Funding Agreement: City "approved, appropriated and allocated Funding in an amount not to exceed $2,110,000 from the General Fund" for PCE to administer the program (the $100K workforce reserve was later folded in, bringing total to $2,210,000). Per Section 4, restricted to building electrification and electrical infrastructure for income-qualified households.

Staff recommendation: Authorize the funding agreement

Partnership with UC Berkeley's Safe Transportation Research and Education Center to conduct Complete Streets Safety Assessments for Santa Cruz Avenue and Sand Hill Road. Both are part of the High Collision Corridor Network — 20% of streets accounting for 93% of fatal and serious injury collisions.

Approved a redesign shifting the tunnel south, lowering it about 3 feet to facilitate construction without interrupting railroad operations, and extending the tunnel length to place the ramps out of Caltrain's right-of-way. Council also requested Caltrain consider an "uncovered" segment of the tunnel in the part of Caltrain's right-of-way not currently needed for active train service.

Authorized City Manager to accept the $4.5M California Energy Commission grant earmarked in the 2022 California Budget Act (AB 179) for Menlo Park's citywide electrification program. Reimbursement-and-milestone structure with two halves of $2.25M. First half received September 2023.

Staff recommendation: Authorize acceptance of grant

Approved a modification to the planned development permit for 700-800 El Camino Real to facilitate the purchase of a portion of that property for the ramps for the crossing, as recommended by the Planning Commission on May 1, 2023.

May 2023: City was notified that its grant application had been approved and that $50M had been set aside for the engineering, design and construction of the SAFER Bay Project. FEMA funding will be reimbursed quarterly.

Authorized City Manager to sign a service agreement with Caltrain to conduct project development activities, including reviewing the proposed design, developing one or more RFPs for design, developing an MOU to conduct final design, and selecting a preferred contracting method.

Authorized acceptance of grant funds (if awarded) and execution of MOU with SFCJPA, PG&E, and Meta. MOU outlines partner roles, responsibilities, funding commitments ($10M PG&E + $7.808M Meta), and collaboration.

Staff recommendation: Authorize grant acceptance and MOU

Council adopted Resolution No. 6690 authorizing the City Manager to execute a purchase and sale agreement with Menlo Station Development, LLC, for a portion of 700-800 El Camino Real (APN 071-333-200) to support implementation of the Middle Avenue pedestrian and bicycle rail crossing. $100K deposit paid May 5, 2022; purchase scheduled to close May 6, 2024.

Council study session to provide direction regarding the FEMA BRIC grant program for SAFER Bay.

Council studied RAC vs hot mix asphalt. RAC composed of recycled tires, reduces vehicle noise at speeds 45+ mph, 20-year typical life vs 15 years for hot mix asphalt; but 20-25% more expensive and more labor intensive. Council directed staff to include RAC as bid alternate for: 1.2-2.4-inch top lift overlay projects, arterial/collector resurfacing, summer construction projects.

December 2020 application to Cal OES for the 2020 FEMA BRIC grant program. Joint application by City, SFCJPA, PG&E, and Meta. $50M federal max requested against $17.808M committed local match.

Council certified the addendum to the El Camino Real and Downtown specific plan EIR and approved the 30% project plans. This was the CEQA clearance step; NEPA clearance was still pending as of the May 2024 MOU.

Council unanimously passed a motion to select an undercrossing approximately 10-12 feet below the street/plaza elevation that generally aligns with a proposed raised crosswalk on Alma Street and is slightly offset from the plaza at 500 El Camino Real (Stanford's Middle Plaza development).

SMCTA (San Mateo County Transportation Authority) action — not Menlo Park Council. Initial $490K seed funding for preliminary engineering and environmental clearance phases of the Middle Ave Caltrain Crossing project.